Wednesday, 25 February 2026, 19:00 - 20:00
The UKMEC helps clinicians decide what contraceptives they can safely recommend based on the medical conditions and characteristics of patients in their care.
In December 2025, the CoSRH Clinical Effectiveness Unit issued an updated UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (UKMEC) providing guidance on what contraception clinicians can safely recommend to their patients.
Featuring Dr.Rebecca Strauss, Clinical Director for the CoSRH Clinical Effectiveness Unit (CEU), this is a one-hour interactive session with the opportunity to ask your questions live.
This event will take place on February 25th 2026 from 19:00 - 20:00.
Please note, this session will be run online via Zoom.
Pricing:
We’re pleased to offer this session free of charge to current CoSRH members of all member categories. The session will be recorded and shared for anyone who is unable to attend live.
The costs for attending this event are as follows:
| CoSRH Members |
Free to attend |
| Non-members |
£30
|
FAQs:
1. I cannot attend this event live, can I still submit a question? Yes. When booking your place on this event, you will be given the opportunity to submit your UKMEC questions. All pre-submitted questions will be addressed by Dr Rebecca Strauss. The event will be recorded and offered on-demand to ticket holders for one month after the event date so that you can watch back at a time that is convenient for you.
2. Will this event be run in-person or online? This course will be run online via Zoom.
Our Expert Panel
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Dr Rebecca Strauss
Dr Rebecca Strauss is the Clinical Director for the CoSRH Clinical Effectiveness Unit (CEU), a member of the college and a college registered trainer. She has worked in the field of Sexual and Reproductive healthcare for almost 17 years, having moved into the specialty after training to become a GP. Rebecca also works for Locala Sexual Health services as one of the contraceptive leads.
Rebecca is particularly interested in complex contraception, service improvement and education. She is passionate about educating health care professionals on the latest evidence-based information and guidelines, allowing patients to make safe and informed decisions about contraception.
Dr Diana Mansour
Dr Diana Mansour is a Consultant in Community Gynaecology and Reproductive Healthcare in Newcastle upon Tyne and Visiting Professor at the University of Sunderland. She has recently retired from the NHS but still sees patients privately. She is also a Clinical Appraiser for Newcastle Hospitals.
Diana was Senior Vice President at the now College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH). Diana currently sits on the CoSRH UK Medical Eligibility for Contraceptive Use (UKMEC) steering group and guideline development group.
She is a British Menopause Society recognized specialist leading recently on the development of the Menopause Guidance for the North of England and local guidance for Managing Gynaecological Problems in Primary Care.
Diana is first author to over 110 peer-reviewed publications and co-wrote 'Contraception Made Easy' with Dr Laura Percy for those working in general practice and family medicine.
Diana’s areas of expertise include acceptability of contraceptive methods, non-contraceptive benefits of contraception, development of long-term methods of contraception, medical management of heavy menstrual bleeding and management of the menopause.
Dr Annette Thwaites
Dr Annette Thwaites is a consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Health at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Institute for Women's Health, University College London.
Her research interests include postnatal contraception and she was awarded her MD (Res) in 2022 on the contraceptive needs of women post successful IVF.
She has also authored the CSRH CEU statement on contraception for women with eating disorders and was a member of the UKMEC 2025 guideline development group.
Benjamin Boxer
Systematic Reviewer for the CoSRH Clinical Effectiveness Unit (CEU). He has eight years of experience in health research, spanning academic institutions, the private sector, and non-governmental organisations. His expertise encompasses both primary data collection and evidence synthesis. Benjamin currently divides his time between the CoSRH and King’s College London, where he works as a Research Associate.